Boeing 707

Operator:

RN Cargo of Nigeria

Registration:

5N-ARO

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lagos - Accra

MSN:

18924

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a normal landing at Accra-Kotoka Airport, the crew vacated the runway and the aircraft was taxiing to his parking position when an explosion occurred. The aircraft caught fire and was stopped on the taxiway. All four crew members escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was partially destroyed.

Probable cause:

An incendiary device with a slow burning fuse was found in the cargo compartment.

Crash of a Boeing 707-338C near Sebha: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1983

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

5A-DJO

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Sebha - Tripoli

MSN:

18955

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Sebha Airport, while climbing, one of the engine caught fire. The crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in a desert area located about 30 km north of the airfield, bursting into flames. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that a fuel line ruptured during initial climb, causing the fuel to leak into the engine and to ignite while in contact with high temperature elements.

Crash of a Boeing 707-323B in Brasília

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1982

Type of aircraft:

Global International Airways

Operator:

Registration:

N8434

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Brasília – Miami – New York

MSN:

20173

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft was returning to the US with eight crew members and 52 passengers, all of them were journalists covering the official visit of the US President Ronald Reagan in Brazil. After takeoff, during initial climb, the left main gear struck the ILS antenna. The captain informed ATC about the situation and was cleared to return for an emergency. On approach, both main gears remained jammed in their wheel well and only the nose gear was down and locked. The airplane landed on its belly and slid for few dozen meters before coming to rest. All 60 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 707-366C in Geneva

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1982 at 1220 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

SU-APE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cairo - Geneva - Zurich

MSN:

20342

YOM:

1970

Flight number:

MS771

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

174

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12564

Captain / Total hours on type:

4239.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3000

Copilot / Total hours on type:

350

Aircraft flight hours:

39002

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft was performing a schedule service MS771 from Cairo to Zurich with an intermediate stop in Geneva, carrying 174 passengers and a crew of 10. Following an uneventful flight from Cairo-Intl, the crew was cleared to descent for an ILS approach to Geneva-Cointrin Airport runway 23. On short final, the captain failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the right main gear struck an ILS antenna. Few seconds later, the airplane landed 35 meters short of runway threshold. While contacting the concrete runway, all three landing gear were torn off. The airplane slid on its belly for about 900 meters then made a left turn and lost its right wing before coming to rest. A fire erupted on the right side of the airplane but was quickly extinguished. All 184 occupants were evacuated, two passengers were seriously injured during the evacuation. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the followings:
- Lack of decision on part of the pilot-in-command (captain) who failed to initiate a go-around procedure following a wrong approach configuration after the aircraft passed below 1,000 feet or at least after passing over the outer marker,
- Insufficient work coordination in the cockpit, after the crew failed to follow the approach checklist and all instructions relative to approach and landing controls, lack of a clear distribution of tasks as well as surveillance and mutual assistance (doublecheck / crosscheck),
- Stubbornness to land once the ground in sight despite a wrong approach configuration (airbrakes deployed) with an excessive rate of descent.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- Omission of a correct approach and landing planing,
- Late increase of engine power during the last portion of the approach,
- A possible inadvertent deployment of the interior airbrakes shortly before impact.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707-348C in Khartoum

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1982

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ST-AIM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Jeddah - Khartoum

MSN:

19410

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Khartoum-Haj Yussuf Airport in bad visibility, the crew reported technical problems and requested clearance for an emergency landing. The four engine airplane crashed in the Nile River about 5 km from the airport and came to rest in shallow water. All 11 occupants were rescued. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 707-437 in Mumbai: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1982 at 0434 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VT-DJJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji (Santa Cruz)

Schedule:

Singapore - Kuala Lumpur - Bombay

MSN:

17723

YOM:

1960

Flight number:

AI403

Location:

Maharashtra

Country:

India

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

101

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6627

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Singapore via Kuala Lumpur, the crew started the descent to Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport by night. The visibility was poor due to the combination of fog and night. On final, the captain reduced engine power at minimum, causing the aircraft to adopt an excessive rate of descent. Twelve seconds later, the aircraft landed hard on runway 27. Main wheel wells and tires were damaged upon impact and several alarms sounded in the cockpit. The captain increased engine power and decided to initiate a go-around. The airplane continued for few hundred meters but rolled on the right shoulder of the runway before takeoff. After liftoff, the stick shaker activated as the aircraft was in stall conditions. It lost height then crashed near the runway end, bursting into flames. Two crew members and 15 passengers were killed, 45 other occupants were injured and 49 others escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who led the aircraft adopt an excessive rate of descent during the last segment.

Crash of a Boeing 707-348C in Damascus

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1982

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

7O-ACJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Damascus Governorate (مُحافظة دمشق‎)

Schedule:

Tripoli - Damascus

MSN:

18737/377

YOM:

1964

Location:

Damascus

Country:

Syria

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Tripoli to Damascus, carrying a load of military equipment and spare parts. While descending to Damascus Airport, the airplane was attacked and several bullets went through an engine and the tail. The crew completed an emergency descent and was able to land without further problem. Nevertheless, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Shot down by unknown.

Crash of a Boeing 707-124 in Miami

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1981 at 1216 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

HI-384HA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site: